Means for connecting brake shoes and heads



May 27-, 1924, 1,495,552

, G DITMORE ET AL v I m I sm mm Patented May 27, 1924;.

uurrso STATES ears GEORGE W. DITMORE, F ALBANY, AND ABRAHAM B. APPLEB/ AND CHARLES E. SCHOLL, OF WATERVLIET, NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR CONNECTING BRAKE SHOES AND HEADS.

Application filed April 2, 1920. Serial No. 370,710.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, GEORGE W. DITMORE, ABRAHAM BENJAMIN APPLER, and CHARLES E. SOHOLL, citizens of the United States, re-

siding at Albany, Watervliet, and Watervliet, respectively, all in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for. Connecting Brake Shoes and Heads, of which the following is a specifi-- cation, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to means for connecting brake shoes and heads, and more particularly to a. novel and improved type of retaining key, whereby to permit of the removal of the shoe from the head as desired, while retaining or looking the shoe to the head against accidental removal.

In the particular art to which the invention relates, many suggestions have heretofore been made of retaining means between v the ordinary brake shoe and brake beam head, and manyv of these haveiproven to be satisfactory to a large extent, but at the same time they are all, so far as they have come to our knowledge, more or less susceptible of becoming accidentally displaced in operation, with the result that the shoe is permitted to drop off, with the result not only of the loss of the shoe, but likewise the destruction of the head, for the reason that the bearing face thereof will in the subsequent operation of the brake beam brought in forcible contact with the wheel tread, thereby wear the head and render the same unfit in a short period of time for subse quent use.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to overcome many of the disadvantages incident to retaining means for the shoe. as at present in use, and with this in view, it is proposed to provide a re taining key adapted to be interposed between the shoe and brake beam head, the key being of novel and improved construction and of a character adapted to be readily applied in position. and when once in posi-' tion toautomatically assume a retaining or locking engagement. with the associated parts of the head and shoe, thus preventing accidental removal of the key, and loss of the shoe, as is frequently the case in prior changes whatsoever in the normal construcof these parts. I

It is also contemplated by the invention to provide a locking key of the character described having in addition to the main retaining or looking characteristics thereof, means whereby should said main locking characteristics become partially displaced from the cooperating members of the shoe or head as the case may be, certam parts of the key will be brought into frictional contact with thewalls of the shoe or head to resistfurther separation of the key from the shoe and head.

Still further, it is an object of the invention to provide a retaining key of the general type referred to, which, while strongly resisting accidental displacement from normal locking position, may upon exertion. of intended pressure, be readily released. for the removal of the shoe, without breakage or destruction of parts, to the end that the key may be re-used for its intended purpose, as occasion demands.

More particularly the invention embraces a novel. and. improvedform of retaining key, simple in design and construction, strong and durable, andefiicient and satisfactory in operation.

Other improvements, and novel details in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the invention will be appreciated from the description to follow, which, for a clear understanding of the invention, is to be considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and wherein is disclosed for the purpose of illustration a convenient and satisfactory embodiment of the invention, though it is to ,be borne in mind in this connection that minor changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the particular locking means herein described may be susceptil'ile of other adaptations, and uses not specifically referred-to herein. j j r In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical. section of a brake shoe and brake beam head in operative connection, and retaining means. the latter shown in elevation, for the shoe and head. I l

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal transverse section of the same.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of an improved lockekeyi Fig l is; le se]; of the slaine With more p rticular reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals referto correspondingparts throughout the several .views l des 'nates generally a brake shoe of..standard. construction having the usual wheel engaging surface 2, and c n'ved rear headenga ng surface 3, with thecentral lug t having a longitudinally-extendmg opening? therethrough H j r 6 designates generally a brake beam head of any ofthe. approved types havin ,projecting, from the inner surface 7 thereof a. pair of lugs Sand 9', respectively one adjacenteachend or the lug oi the brake shoe, and havinginclined surfaces '10 correspondingwith the general inclination of the inclined surfaces 11 of the said brake shoe lug The lugs 8 and 9 of the brake beam headv have ,longitndinallyettending openings 8 and 9 extending therethrmigh.

.,Referring now more particularly to the novel and improved means for retaining" the brake head and shoe in the interlocked condition illustrated, 12 is an offset or upstandhead wh'ich connects with a body portion 13 thereof the lock being; curved preterably throughout its length to correspond with. the general,curvature ot, the shoe and head, and in. thickness, said body part tapering gradually to a reduced, thickness at the lower end thereof, as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 4-. I I

At said lower end of the locking pin, the

same is providedwith a central terminal slot 14, thereby providing furcations 15 which are bent and separated in any desired manner at a point adjacent to but spacedbelow the upper end of the slot whereby to provide the abruptshoulder parts 16, which shoulder pa rts co'nn'ectwith oppositely inclined edges of thearms 15. which said edges gradually conyeige towards the lower end of the key as illustrated at l'Z. I o

It will be observed that thear ns 1 5 as thus constructed will constitute spring arms requiring considerable compression to draw the, arms adjacent to or in contact with one another, so, as to constitute in effect cont' nations ofthe side edges 18 of the body partof the keyh l l 'Ihe key .as..,abovfe described may, and preferably does", have an auxiliary retaining characteristic, conveniently formed by slitting or shearing a section 19 from each side thereof extending from a point adjacent the head 12 to a point considerably therebelow.

In the application of the key to the brake shoe and head, assuming that the key is used for this purpose (of course this is its intended primary use), the lugs or arms 17 at the shouldered plortions '16 thereof are arms are spread whereby to provide lateral i enlargements at a point spacedttroin said. end, and said side arms gradually converg ing towards said lower end, from said enlargements, whereby to facilitate insertitm of the key through the apertures of the. lugs, andgvh'ereby said enlargements upon the insertion of the. key will spring, outwardly to a point beyond the wall of the recess of the adjacent lug, and. said key als having adjacent its upper. or. outer end split parts forming spring side retaining enlargements.

2. A locking, means for brake shoes. comprising an elongated .kev curved substantially throughout its lengthwhereby to conform to the general curvature ofthe shoe. said key having a headat one end and being gradually reduced in thickness toward its opposite end. the said key havingat said opposite/ end,integral lateral substantially vow spring locking a'rn'is, and also having adjacent said head auxiliary spring locking,

means.

A locking key for connecting brake shoes to heads, said key being curved throughout its length and havinga head at one end, and. beingsplit at its opposite end to form opposed side arms offset intermediate the ends thereof to form spring locking projections and said key having adjacent the, head split side parts laterally offset to form substantially b'0w-shaped spring locking means. a y i L A key for locking brake shoes to heads, co'n'iprising an elojn ated member taperingin thickness substantially throughout the length from the headthereofso as to form a relatively thin end, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced lateral projections for ning lookinig 5. A; key for connecting brake shoes to brake shoes to heads, comprising an elongated member gradually reduced in thickness from the head to the insertible end thereof, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced integral laterally projecting bow spring members adapted to engage at opposite sides of the usual interengaging lugs on the shoe and head, and adapted to be compressed on the insertion and removal of the key.

6. A locking key for securing brake shoes to heads, which comprises an elongated body part provided with head and end portions, the end portion having spaced members, and a laterally offset portion partially severed from the main part to form yieldable retaining means located between the head portion and the inner terminal of the spacing at the end portion.

7. A locking key for securing brake shoes to heads, which comprises an elongated curved body part gradually reduced in thickness from its head to the insertible end thereof, the upper and lower surfaces of the body part being substantially smooth and continuous, the said body part being split therethrough longitudinally from its insertable end outwardly a considerable distance whereby to form side arms, which side arms are normally ofiset laterally to form retaining projections, but which are adapted to.

yield under pressure towards, or. in contact with, one another, and auxiliary compressible lateral spring arms on the body part adjacent the head of the key.

8. In combination with a brake shoe and head having overlapping apertured lugs, a locking key adapted to be inserted through said lugs having lateral spring means to engage the sides of the adjacent parts of the shoe and head at opposite ends of said lugs. 9. In combination with a brake shoe and head having overlapping apertured lugs, a

locking key adapted to be inserted through.

said lugs, said key having integral spring arms to engage one above and one below said lugs, substantially as and "for the purpose described.

10. In combination with a brake shoe and head having overlapping apertured lugs, a locking key adapted to be inserted through said lugs, the said key having at the lower end thereof integral bow spring arms adapted to yield to permit of the insertion of the key and to thereafter spring beyond the wall of the lugs surrounding said apertures, and said key also having adjacent the opposite end thereof integral bow spring arms adapted to yield and normally projecting beyond the wall of the lugs surrounding said aperture.

11. In combination with a brake shoe and head, one of which has a plurality of lugs and the other an intermediate interengaging lug, the said lugs having registering apertures therethrough, and a locking key to be inserted through said apertures, comprising an elongated body part curved and tapered in thickness throughout its length, the said body part at its insertible end being split and spread to form locking arms, adapted to be compressed on the insertion and removal of the key through said apertures, and when in normal position to project beyond the wall of said apertures, and said body part also having adjacent its opposite end integral lateral bow spring arms to engage over the walls surrounding the apertures of the lug adjacent the head end of the key.

12. A locking means for brake shoes comprising an elongated key having a head on one end and the opposite end slit longitudinally to form arms, said arms being bent lat erally to extend beyond the sides of the key body, and spring arms formed adjacent the head end, said spring arms being formed by longitudinally slitting the key adjacent the longitudinal edges and then bending to from a curved extension beyond the edge of the key, one end of the arms being severed from the body of the key but in sliding engagement therewith.

13. A locking means for brake shoes comprising a key having spring arms interme diate its ends, said arms being formed by longitudinally slitting the key adjacent its longitudinal edges and then bending to form a curved extension beyond the edge of the key, one end of the arms being severed from the body of the key but in sliding engagement therewith.

14. A device for connecting brake shoes to heads comprising an elongated key split at its inner or lower end to form side arms, which said arms are spread whereby to provide lateral enlargements at a point spaced from said end, and said side arms extending a substantial distance beyond the enlargements and converging in straight easy lines from said enlargements to their lower ends to provide an elongated introducing portion in advance of the enlargements.

In testimony whereof we here-unto aflix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE XV. DITMORE. ABRAHAM B. APPLER. CHARLES E. SCHOLL. Witnesses:

MARY R. APPLER, D. EARL J ONES. 

